Turn the wheel
to kiss the side of the road
and unload
your bag from the trunk.
Small enough for your short stay.
You fell right back into our lives then you were gone.

You head inside and rush through the people
coming and going.
Back to California
with fresh new images of Colorado--the mountains, the crisp fall air
and the memories to layer on top of last year
when you were here with us
a part of us.
And it felt so easy,
like you belonged because you did.

Just a quick taste of what is used to be.
And we miss our missing friend
and feel a little less whole
now that we've had her and she's gone again.